Attachment plug



' March 22,,

L. s.. BRACH 2,112,137

ATTACHMENT I LuG Filed June 18, 1956 INVENTOR fi fir'ac-Z/ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 22, 19 38 v UNITED. STATES" ATTACHMENT PLUG Leon s. Br'ach, East Orange, NJ. Application June'1 8, 1936, Serial No. 85,939 f":

s Claims. (01. rz'z-sni This invention relates to an attachment plug particularly adapted for use in connection with electric flat irons.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to use lowvoltage indicating lamps mounted on the base or handle portion of the flat iron, the lamp being lighted through a resistance mounted either inthe iron or as a part of the current-conducting cord coming to the plug, but such constructions are open to many objections in that the use of the cord breaks the resistance wire running to the lamp. Where a 110-volt filament type of lamp is'used, this is objectionable on account of its size'and the heat given off by it.

'By reason of my improved form of attachment plug, which will be hereinafter described in detail, I make use of a glow lamp, preferably ofthe neon gas-filled type. These lamp bulbs are very small and consume almost no current at all, especially when used in connection with a resistor as I have used them in prior devices.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide simple and relatively inexpensive means for giving an indication to the user of the flat 25 position with the flat iron.

While attaining the principal object of my invention, it is another object to provide a current-indicating means that is eficient and economical in its operation.

Another 'object of my invention is to provide a current-indicating means in the plug which takes such a very small amount of current that substantially no heat is radiated therefrom, so

that it is not injurious in any way to theinsuiating parts of the plug, and neither will it burn an operator who might accidentally come in contact with it. I 40 Another object of my invention is to provide a current-indicating means that isvisible from several directions.

My invention will be best understood by reference tothe attached drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my improved form of attachment plug.

Figure 2 is a view of the two parts of the plug separated, showing'the interior of these parts 50 and the method of mounting the various pieces entering into the electrical circuit.

Figure 3 is a view of the flat iron end of the plug shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view of part of the means used a for holding the parts of the plug together.

iron that current is available at the plug and with cooperative contact members I, and 8 shown iron when the plug is inserted into operative Figure 5 is a view of a contact spring member used in connection with myimproved device.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through a preferred form of indicating means.

Figure 7 is a view on the line of Figure 1.- 5

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a modified form of spring member used for connecting the indicator in circuit.

Figure 9 is a section on the line99 of Figure 8. 1 FigurelO isa wiring diagram of applicants plug.

In the various views, wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts, I and 2 are complementary pieces making up the. body of the plug. 'I'hesepieces are made of any suitable insulating material. The interior portions of the parts I and 2 have complementary recesses 3' and l therein to receive and position contactengaging members 5 and 6. .These, contact-engaging members 5 and 6 are'u'sually made of two cooperative parts as shown in Figures -3 and'7, which parts are formed of metal. that has some resilience in order to make engagement as pins or terminals mounted on the fiat iron. The plug parts I and 2, at the end opposite what I term the-flat iron end, have similar cooperative projecting portions 9 and I0. These portions are recessed at II and 12 as shown so .as to facilitate and speed up assembly, for it will be seen that the lamp guard, to be later referred to, can be mounted in either projecting portion. Furthermore, this symmetrical arrangement reduces the molding die cost and the cost .of production. The recess II is adapted to receive the enlarged convolutions M of a spring guardmember l4 that is ordinarily used to protect the incoming current cable l5, one of the conductors l6 being connected to the contactengaging member 5, while the other conductor I] is connected to the contact-engaging memher 6. v

The annular recess I2 of the projection I0 is adapted to encircle and hold a flange or shoul- 45 dered portion l8 comprising part of a member l9 which serves both as a holder and guard for a neon gas-filled bulb 2 0. 'As will be seen from Figure 6, the bulb is of the baseless type and is held in'the holder in any satisfactory man- 50 ner as by suitable packing 2| of asbestos or felt.

' The holder I9 is provided with aplurality of to the contact-engaging terminal 5 through a high resistor 25 which may be of the grid leak type. The other terminal 28 coming from the electrode 21 of the bulb 28 is connected to a spring 28 positioned in a channel 29 formed in the two parts I and 2 of the plug.

The channel 29 widens out at 38 somewhat as shown in Figure 2 to provide a space for the end of the spring 28 to move laterally therein. The end of the spring 28 is bent over and extends over the orifice leading to the contact-engaging member 8, about as indicated in the left-hand part of Figure 2. This bent over end of the spring 28 is preferably split into two forks 8| and 82 in order to give greater resilience to this bent end of the spring. Also, the forks 3| and 32 are preferably bentinwardlyrat 33 toward the contact-engaging member 6.

This arrangement and construction of the spring contact member 28 is such that when the plug is inserted into the iron, so that the tere minals I and 8 engage the members 5 and 8, the member 8, for example, will engage the bent ends 33 of the forks 3| and 32, thereby providing a good electrical contact between the spring 28 and V the member 8, and the contact-engaging member 6, thereby connecting the electrode 21 of the lamp bulb directly to one side of the current supply, causingthe bulb 28 to be illuminated. It will be noted that the bent over end of the member 28 is positioned in an orifice ll located between the wall portions 82 and l3,'thereby preventing the spring contact member 28 from being displaced required indication that current is longitudinally out of its working position and.

' ing member 8.

While I have shown the spring.28 associated .with the contact-engaging member 8, it is obvious that it may be turned over and placed so as to cooperate with the member 5; also, it is obvious that the resistor 28 may be connected in the lead 26 going to the lamp bulb.

In Figure 8 I have shown a modified method of connecting the lamp bulb across the line. In this construction, the two parts- 84 and 35 comprising the member 8 are separated by suitable insulators or bushings 88. The member 84 is connected to the terminal 28 of the bulb, while the member 35 is connected to the current-conductor II. In this arrangement, when the plug is inserted in the iron, the terminal 8 thereof will connect '3 and 85 together, thereby connecting the bulb 20 across the circuit, thus giving the at the plug and iron.

The two parts I and 2 of the plug are held together at one end by a stud 81 and ,nut 88. At the flat iron end, the parts I and 2 are provided with an annular circumferential groove 88 within which is snapped a spring 48.

By using a neon gas-filled bulb in the manner indicated, the average user will not feelthe necessity of pulling the plug. out of the iron or out of the wall socket, orturnlng off some switch to save current taken by the lamp, as this is infinitesimal as compared to what is taken by the flat iron itself, and while the lamp may be permanently complementary insulators forming a casing and having interior formations to receive contactengaging members, adapted to be connected to the incoming conductors of a current supply cable; means for indicating, when the plug is inserted into the apparatus which is to receive it,

that current is available at said contact-engaging members, said means including, a small gasfilled bulb mounted in the plug for visual indication, a spring contact member within the plug connected to one terminal of the bulb while the other bulb terminal is connected to one side of the current supply, and a high resistance connected in series with the bulb, said spring mem-- ber being located so it will be connected to the other side of the current supply when the plug is inserted into the receiving apparatus.

2. An attachment plug as set forth in claim 1, further defined in that said spring contact member is positioned in a channel complementarily formed in both of said insulators and extends toward the flat iron end of the plug, the channel having its upper or inner end of a width which will securely hold said spring member, but having its lower or outer end of a width which will allow free movement of the contact end of said spring member and having a part formed so as to project into engagement with a contact member on the fiat iron when the plug is inserted therein.

3. An attachment plug as set forth in claim 1, further defined in that said spring contact member is positioned in a channel complementarily formed in both of said insulators and extends toward the fiat iron end'of the plug, and having a part formed so as to project into engagement with a contact member on the flat iron when the plug is inserted therein, said projected part of the spring member being forked, the forked ends being bent inwardly toward one of said contactengaging members. 4

4. An attachment plug as set forth in claim 1, further defined in that said spring contact member forms part of one of said contact-engaging members, and being insulated from the part connected to one of the incoming current conductors.

5. An attachment plug composed of two symmetrical insulators supplied with means for holding them together, said insulators having interior recesses extending to one end of the plug to receive contact-engaging members, the opposite end of the plug having similar slight projections at opposite corners, either projection formed to receive an incoming current supply cable and its protecting strain member, a combined perforated holder and guard locked in place in the other projection by the insulators when fastened together, the holder and guard extending beyond the projection; a discharge lamp carried within the holder so as to give visual indication therethrough, a spring contact member carried by the insulators between said contact-engaging members and extending in front of one of them as and for the purpose described, and a high resistance connected in series with the lamp, said spring member being connected to one terminal of the lamp while the other terminal of the lamp is connected through said resistance to the other of said contact-engaging members.

8. In an attachment plug having parts of insulating material for carrying contact-engaging members connected by a cable to a source of current, a discharge lamp such as a neon gasfllled bulb carried by the plug so as to be visible in several directions, a high resistance locatedv within the plug and connected in series with the lamp to one of said contact-engaging members, and means including a laterally movable contact located within the plug in cooperative relationship with the other of said contact-engaging members for causing the lamp to be excited when the plug is inserted into a device having contacts toengage said contact-engaging members of the Plug.

7. An insulating casing member for an attachment plug body having an approximately rec tangular plane face and having similar projecting portions at opposite corners at one end, said portions having similarly formed recesses whereby a cord protector or a combined lamp holder and guard ;;,may be interchangeably mounted in either of said recesses, said casing member further havlngfinterior formations to assist in holding "contact-engaging members adapted to be connected to an incoming conductor of a currentsupply cable, and a further formation to assist in holding a supplemental spring as described, and said body being formed symmetrically with respect to a central plane at right angles to the plane of said face.

8. A tubular holder and guard member enlarged at one end to form a clamping engagement shoulder, and perforated at the other end, a tubular baseless lamp of the neon type within the holder and guard member, and packing means between the inner wall of the holder and guard member and the lamp for holding the, lamp in position, and located so as to permit passage of light rays from the lamp through the perforated portion.

LEON S. BRACH. 

